YouTube is a popular video sharing website with content primarily produced by its users. Through YouTube, users can upload, share and interact with online videos.

Through UW Google Apps, you can create an account on YouTube to upload your own videos. You can still view videos and share them without an account which makes YouTube useful for sharing videos with others.

Key Features

Video Hosting - YouTube provides a place to put your video online and a page to share it from.

Embedding - the YouTube player can be embedded in most web pages (for example, your blog or ePortfolio). This allows the video to be played within the page it is embedded in.

YouTube Channels/Playlists - lists of videos you've uploaded, liked, or put in groups together. Instructors could utilize this tool to put together a course playlist, for example.

YouTube EDU - an area of YouTube that focuses on educational videos that can be used in the classroom.

Privacy - users can set privacy settings on their videos. They have the ability to make the video private, available to those with the link or public.

Although there are privacy features, YouTube is not FERPA compliant. Do not post any sensitive or confidential information on the site (for example, student grades).

Using YouTube in the Classroom

Faculty Uses

Upload lectures or lessons to YouTube
This provides an easy way for students to access faculty after class hours. Put videos up so students can review concepts or catch up on anything they may have missed.

Play relevant videos for students during class time
Present YouTube videos, related to your course's content, during lectures. This gives students an opportunity to visualize and connect concepts. It's also a nice break from a long lecture. You can also attach or send YouTube links in an assignment or email for students to view at home.

Embed YouTube videos directly into Powerpoint presentations
This helps to illustrate topics more effectively than with just text and images. By embedding the video directly into the slideshow, you can minimize interruptions.

Curate student video projects with playlists
Create playlists to gather and showcase student video projects. This is not, only a great way to holistically assess the work of your students, but is also a great way for students to see what their peers have created.

Student Uses

Use YouTube for projects or presentations. Have students upload a video project to YouTube, so they can play it anywhere with an internet connection.

Find videos about concepts you just can't grasp. With millions of videos on the site, there's bound to be alternative explanations to help a student out.